I was running late this morning and went to grab my cell phone to leave a message with my coworker only to discover that it was hot to the touch. Like, left-in-direct-sunlight-for-a-few-hours hot, when it actually had been in a pocket of my work bag all night. It also would not turn on. I started to turn on my computer to email instead, when it occurred to me to unplug the battery, let it cool a bit, and put it back in, which did the trick. So I left the message.

Then I got to work and discovered that the phones for my entire building have been out since 3 a.m. this morning. So my coworker was unable to retrieve the message I left for her, anyway. Guess I should have sent the email.

Madame Director's out on a business trip, too, so I should be having a quiet day -- except that the closet with the phone circuits in it is directly behind me, so there has been a constant stream of workmen loudly expressing various states of confusion about what the problem is, how much of it is Verizon's fault, and when it might be fixed.

Of course my cell phone would threaten spontaneous combustion now, when I need it to last for just three more weeks so I don't have to take a fancy new phone to Europe. And if there's something really wrong, I will have to go ahead and get a new phone because there's no way any store still carries a replacement battery for my old one (at least not one I can get my hands on in the next 5 business days).

Sigh. OK, end of complaint. Let's hope the phone will at least avoid overheating again long enough for me to call my mother and wish her a happy 50th birthday. (Love you, Mom!)